The Democrat

2015

Find out why State Senator Richard Saslaw thought this year’s budget process in Richmond went smoothly. Discover what got funded that may have been neglected in past years.

Read about Freshman Delegate Kathleen Murphy’s first year in the House and find out how she felt when the House passed two egregious bills that would threaten the safety of children and make communities more dangerous.

Discover why Chairman Sharon Bulova says, “Education is our Board’s highest priority but it is not our only priority.”

Read the National Affairs Committee article to discover why they believe, “It’s time for Democrats to learn from our mistakes and coalesce around a national economic message that exemplifies our progressive legacy. “

2014

Read about the FCDC November Legislative Roundtable, the holiday party, and the results of the Kate Hanley Family Shelter gift drive.

Discover in the National Affairs Committee article why Melissa Harrison of the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund believes that in spite of the setback from the midterm elections, the momentum for taking serious action to combat climate change is real.

View the tribute to the former and current FCDC members who died in 2014.

Why Chap Petersen believes we need to re-examine our political culture in Virginia,

How Senator Mark Warner and Representative Gerry Connolly (VA-11th) are governing while campaigning, and

When the 2015 Fairfax County Legislative Package will be available for comment.

Download and read Jeff McKay’s column on how the county staff goes about developing the Fairfax County Legislative Package. Discover why the National Affairs Committee says “climate change is a catalyst for conflict.” Learn about all the activities the FCDC Diversity Committee has been participating in.

Need to catch up on what the joint campaign been doing? Read about the 2014 Joint Campaign, the ease of voting, and campaign volunteer opportunities in a special campaign report: Push to the End.

Find out from At-Large FCPS Board Member, Ilryong Moon what changes will affect the 2014-2015 school year.

Open this month’s TheDemocrat and find out why Governor Terry McAuliffe chose the platform of the Virginia AFL-CIO convention to issue an executive order aimed at stamping out payroll fraud.

Need to catch up on what the campaigns are doing? Read about the 2014 U.S. Senate and House of Representatives candidates and their campaigns in the Campaign Trail Report. This and more in the September 2014 issue of The Democrat.

Need to catch up on what the campaigns are doing? Read about the 2014 Congressional candidates and their campaigns in the Campaign Trail Report. This and more in the August 2014 Issue of The Democrat .

Why Senator Kaine believes innovative outside-the-box solutions can help tackle the costs of college education,

Why Delegate Bulova’s states “despite setbacks, thanks to the Democratic leadership, the General Assembly was able to move many issues forward”,

Why Supervisor Hudgins believes that the need for alternative and multiple commuting modes of transportation is as critical today as it was in the 1920s, and

Why Supervisor Hyland believes that Fairfax County should put the meals tax on the ballot in 2016.

Download and read why Fairfax School Board Member Jane Strauss says the School Board’s vote to increase elementary instruction for students is a good change. Read and respond to The Democrat’s column – Point/Counterpoint: The Meals Tax. See why our FCDC Labor Committee is saying labor is committed to immigrant rights. Read Part II of the FCDC’s National Affairs Committee’s series of national issues and questions of concern to Democrats.

Need to catch up on what the campaigns are doing? Read about the 2014 Senatorial and Congressional candidates and their campaigns in the Campaign Trail Report. This and more in the July 2014 The Democrat.

Why Jeff McKay says there’s no better way to get our Democratic message across than at the local level,

How the donkey became the mascot of the Democratic Party, and

What the FCDC new logo looks like.

Download and read Delegate Marcus Simon’s first article to The Democrat. Find out why Pat Hynes wants to talk about big “D” Democratic values and how they inform policy around public schools. See why our FCDC Labor Committee is promoting school and union partnerships. Follow the FCDC National Affairs Committee’s series of national issues and questions of concern to Democrats. This and more in the June issue of The Democrat.

Take a moment to browse through the Special JJ Edition of The Democratand see who was awarded the FCDC District Member of the Year, FCDC Volunteer of the Year, Magisterial District of the Year, Charles S. Robb Young Leaders Award, and Lynda J. Robb Community Service Award; read who received magisterial district awards; hear about the successful silent auction; and, enjoy the memories of the 2014 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

What State Senator George Barker says about a budget agreement in Richmond, and

Why Supervisor Penny Gross says diversity is not new to Fairfax County.

Find out why the Labor Committee says “Elected leaders play an important role in whether workers have the right to freely organize into a union;” read about who you should be congratulating this month and whose lives should be remembered in our “People in the News” section. Discover and participate in the two new additions to The Democrat: The Book of the Month contributed this month by the National Affairs Committee and The Democrat Monthly Trivia Contest; this month’s contest theme is “30 years ago.” Do you remember where you were in 1984?

The second issue of the redesigned The Democrat is now available. The April 2014 issue will capture your interest with

Congressman Jim’s Moran newest fight on Capitol Hill to end the inhumane abuses of animals,

Delegate Ken Plum’s Report Card of the 2014 General Assembly session, and

Supervisor Jeff McKay’s discussion on the Fairfax County legislative package.

Read National Affairs Guest Author, Lori Wallach’s article on the NAFTA expansion agreement, Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); find out why the Labor Committee says “to restore our middle class, workers must be free to organize and participate in unions without fear of retaliation;” discover who should receive our congratulations in our “People in the News” section, and hear about what the FCDC Technology Committee has been very busy doing. This and more can be found in the April 2014 issue of The Democrat.

Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw’s take on what’s happening in Richmond, and

Chairman’s Bulova’s talk about the Fairfax County budget.

Learn about how the Governor is keeping his campaign promise of “Putting Jobs First.” Find out more about the topic of the program of our next FCDC Meeting from the National Affairs Committee, shed a tear when reading our human interest story, Remembering Shirley Carson, and review the volunteer opportunities and Headquarters News. This and more can be found in the March 2014 issue of The Democrat.

Archived Issues 1962 to 2009

About The Democrat

The Democrat is the monthly newsletter of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, and its purpose is to provide information to Committee members and other interested persons through district reports, committee reports, news articles, campaign notices, and flyers. Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the FCDC unless specifically approved by an appropriate Committee Resolution.

How to Submit Material Generally material submitted to The Democrat should be limited to 250-300 words unless exceptions are made by the Editor or FCDC Chair. Please email material to thedemocrat@fairfaxdemocrats.org. Attach text file or photos, or copy the material into the email message. Deadline for submission is usually the last Friday of each month by 11:59 pm for inclusion in the following month’s issue. Limited numbers of The Democrat are mailed, primarily to those who do not have access to email. Deadlines Articles must be received by usually the last Friday of each month unless the month has four weeks. Deadlines are published in The Democrat. Articles received after the deadline may not make it into the issue. Advertising Ads are very much welcomed and accepted; however, we reserve the right to reject ads for any reason. No product, service, or event advertised herein is endorsed by The Democrat or the FCDC, unless otherwise noted. Let Us Hear From You! Write articles! Send photos! See details above, under How to submit material